Beside the Cursor...

Removing Portions of a Continuous Dimension in Revit

Labels: AEC, Architecture, Autodesk, BIM, Building Information Modeling, Revit, Revit Structure Architecture MEP Autodesk, tips-n-tricks

# posted by Richard Binning : Monday, August 17, 2009 0 comments links to this post

Change your habits to speed up your Revit Model Response

Are you one member of a team who is working in a Revit Model? Wish you could speed up your file access? You can, but you must enlist the help of your team mates. Create a new text based legend and always set it active when you STC. (See image below)



My teams use a legend with the following title: *****Open and Save*****
On this legend you'll find a project "ToDo List", "User Coordination Notes", and more.

We've got three special text styles for use on our ToDo List. A grey version that indicates the item is complete, a black version that indicates a current item, and a red style that identifies something as "Hot" or "Important".

Each open and save operation is much quicker when performed with this view active.

Labels: AEC, Architecture, Autodesk, Revit, Revit Structure Architecture MEP Autodesk, tips-n-tricks, Workflow

# posted by Richard Binning : Friday, August 14, 2009 1 comments links to this post

Revit Tip - Fillet with Radius

1. Right-Click one of your walls and choose "Create Similar" to launch the Wall tool using the correct family.


2. Click your Sketch Options pull down and pick "Fillet Arc" and then immediately pick your two walls.


3. Now graphically stretch the arc into size.

You could toggle on the Radius option, but why not draw and then modify? It's all about iteration after all!

Labels: AEC, Architecture, AutoCAD, Autodesk, BIM, Building Information Modeling, Revit, Revit Structure Architecture MEP Autodesk, tips-n-tricks, Workflow

# posted by Richard Binning : Thursday, June 11, 2009 0 comments links to this post

Revit Workflow in 3 Easy Steps - Think 3

Think 3. The workflow is clockwise within the Revit editor, no matter what flavor you are using.

ONE (1) - You begin by selecting your tool from the design bar on the far left of Revit's screen. Various palettes are available containing context sensitive tools for use.



TWO (2) - Once you've selected your tool, move your eyes and your mouse to the top of the Revit screen and select/modify the options available in the options bar. You can drill down using the element properties button if necessary, but most of the general properties are available within the options bar itself as shown below.



THREE (3) - Third and final step is to place the element within the design window using the options selected in the previous step.



Note: Some elements like slabs and roofs, require you to complete your sketch within the drawing window and then complete the sketch by picking on the design bar. This is another reason why the workflow resembles a circle drawn clockwise.

Want to learn more? Visit AUGI.com and take an ATP course.

Labels: Autodesk, Revit, Revit Structure Architecture MEP Autodesk, tips-n-tricks, Workflow

# posted by Richard Binning : Wednesday, June 03, 2009 5 comments links to this post

AUGI Member Exclusive Download - AutoCAD 2010 Tips-n-Tricks Booklet by Lynn Allen

AUGI Members Only Exclusive!

You all know the value of Lynn Allen’s Tips and Tricks. You know that she has saved you tons of time and effort. Now Lynn Allen, Autodesk technical Evangelist and AUGI Sweetheart, is offering an exclusive to our members. A sneak peek at the AutoCAD 2010 Tips and Tricks.

That’s right – before anyone else gets to see them, Autodesk is allowing AUGI members an exclusive downloadable version. This PDF download is stuffed with the best of the best from Lynn. You have used them in the past and they have made you more productive. Get the latest in a long stream of helpful hints directly from Lynn to AUGI members. You must be a member to download the booklet.

If you're not an AUGI member, be sure to sign up today! Membership is free. Once you're a member, you can download the booklet!

Visit the AutoCAD Community to download a copy now! - http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=98905

Better yet – download your preview copy, then go see Lynn and the tips live and in action at the Autodesk Imagine Tour at a city near you. You can get a hardcopy of the handy booklet at the event.

Join informative sessions, including Take Design Further: Lynn Allen's AutoCAD 2010 Tips & Techniques, and learn how AutoCAD 2010 delivers groundbreaking new capabilities to tackle the most challenging design problems with ease. In addition, you'll see our range of solutions in action in our industry sessions, including design and intelligent modeling solutions such as Autodesk® Inventor® software, Revit® software, AutoCAD® Map 3D software and Autodesk® 3ds Max® software.

www.autodesk.com/imagine

Want more? Visit Lynn's blog for even more tips… www.autodesk.com/lynnallen

Labels: AUGI, AutoCAD, Autodesk, free member benefit, lynn allen, tips-n-tricks

# posted by Richard Binning : Sunday, April 05, 2009 0 comments links to this post

Key Schedules a potential fix for Jumpy Text

Did you catch Donnia's class at AU? If so then you know what key schedules can also be used for in Revit. If not, then Dave B has a good blog post that covers it. Go read his post.

Labels: Autodesk, BIM, Revit, Revit Structure Architecture MEP Autodesk

# posted by Richard Binning : Tuesday, March 03, 2009 0 comments links to this post

I learned something new about 3DSMax and Backburner today

Although 3DS Max 2009 can submit backburner render jobs to both 32bit and 64bit machines, it cannot submit to both at the same time. There is a toggle in the Advanced Tab of the network render dialog box see below:


This toggle allows you to send your job to either option but not both at the same time. You also don't want to mix and match render jobs on both 32bit and 64bit if you are creating an animation as you may introduce a noticable flicker in the final animation.

Labels: 3DSMax, 3DStudio, Autodesk, Backburner, BIM

# posted by Richard Binning : Friday, February 27, 2009 0 comments links to this post

Creating New Build Deployments - Tips

When a new build is available for Revit, you'll probably want to get it installed as quick as possible, but who wants to wait for all the content to be installed? During your client deployment creation select "skip content creation" and create your deployment. Aha...that seemed easy enough but unfortunately, this may result in your new build not finding the various libraries that you intend your users to utilize.

Here is a tip for you: You can predefine all the correct file locations by editing an ini file.

Navigate to your new deployment, find the "Revit Building" folder inside the "Revit Setup" folder within the "Admin Image" folder. There you will find a file named Revit.ini. This file gets copied to your hard drive's program folder when the deployment is run, so make your standard changes to this file prior to pushing your installs.

You can predefine the file locations by adding them to this ini file. Find the strings between [Directories] and [Design Pane] and edit them to point at your company standard folders.

Ex:

[Directories]
AccuRenderRoot=\\BIM\apps\Data\Office Library\RAC
2008\Content\Rendering\AccuRenderRedistDefaultTemplate=\\BIM\apps\Data\Office
Library\RAC 2008\Content\Imperial
Templates\default.rteFamilyTemplatePath=\\BIM\apps\Data\Office Library\RAC
2008\Content\Imperial TemplatesDataLibraryLocations=Imperial
Library=\\BIM\apps\Data\Office Library\RAC 2008\Content\Imperial Library, Metric
Library=\\BIM\apps\Data\Office Library\RAC 2008\Content\Metric Library, Imperial
Detail Library=\\Bim\apps\Data\Office Library\RAC 2008\Content\Imperial
Library\Detail Components, Metric Detail Library=\\BIM\apps\Data\Office
Library\RAC 2008\Content\Metric Library\Detail Components, Training
Files=\\Bim\apps\Data\Office Library\RAC 2008\Content\Training, Haskell
Standards=\\Bim\apps\Data\Office Library\Haskell
StandardsMaterialLibraryLocations=..\Data\MaterialsProjectPath=C:\Revit_LocalImportLineweightsNameDWG=\\BIM\apps\Data\Office
Library\Haskell
Standards\DataFiles\importlineweights-HASKELL.txtExternalParameters=\\BIM\apps\Data\Office
Library\Haskell Standards\Shared Parameters\Issue_Date.txt
[DesignPane]

This will keep all your users accessing a consistent set of standard files.

Note: The installer doesn't appear to overwrite an existing Revit.ini file in that same location, so be sure to uninstall the previous build or rename this file prior to running the new deployment.

Labels: Architecture, Autodesk, MEP, Revit, Structure

# posted by Richard Binning : Friday, January 18, 2008 0 comments links to this post

Under the Radar indeed...isn't this SP4?

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that the "January incident" is fixed, but giving this latest build the identity of SP3 leaves the original SP3 build of 20071109_2345 lost to history. I celebrated that build because of the things it fixed and because it was the first time that I didn't have to wait for the MEP release to be posted. If you saw my blog on November 19th, you'll remember the party that was thrown!

Nevertheless, the "Failed to open document" error is no more with the latest release, so create your deployments and announce them to your users. Now get back to work!

Labels: Architecture, Autodesk, BIM, MEP, Revit, Structure

# posted by Richard Binning : Thursday, January 10, 2008 0 comments links to this post

The January Fix for REVIT Products is In...under the radar!

Looks like the fix for problems associated with the Jan 2008 bug are now available. Had problems recently opening older files? Trouble editing schedules or groups?...Install the latest build 20080101_2345 to fix these problems and more! It is definitely time to upgrade and install the latest Revit Builds! Learn about and download the latest builds using the links below.

Click on the Web Update Enhancement List links below to read about the changes and fixes provided in the latest builds.

• Download the Architecture Web Update Enhancement List.
• Download the Structure Web Update Enhancement List.
• Download the MEP Web Update Enhancement List.

Want to download the latest English builds directly? Get it/them at Autodesk by clicking on these links:

• Revit Architecture 2008 Build: 20080101_2345
• Revit Architecture 2008 for AutoCAD Suite Build: 20080101_2345
• Revit Structure 2008 Build: 20080101_2345
• Revit Structure 2008 for AutoCAD Suite Build: 20080101_2345
• Revit MEP 2008: 20080101_2345
  

Don't forget to read up on the content changes. I'll include this important reminder until the next full release.

Thank You Autodesk for understanding the need to release all the disciplines tools at the same time!...

Labels: Architecture, AutoCAD, Autodesk, BIM, Building Information Modeling, CAD Management, MEP, Revit, Structure

# posted by Richard Binning : Wednesday, January 09, 2008 0 comments links to this post

Use VBA to detach unloaded External References (XREFs)

Often when archiving or sending files to consultants, it is desireable to do some house cleaning prior to transmitting them. A common practice in cases like these would be to detach any unnecessary XRefs. And what is more unnecessary than a previously unloaded xref?

Public Sub DetachUnloadedXrefs()
Dim o_Blk As AcadBlock
For Each o_Blk In ThisDrawing.Blocks
If o_Blk.IsXRef And o_Blk.Count = 0 Then
ThisDrawing.Utility.Prompt o_Blk.Name & _
" is an unloaded xref and has been detached." & vbCrLf
o_Blk.Detach
End If
Next
End Sub

Hope you find that useful.

Labels: AutoCAD, Autodesk, VBA, XRef

# posted by Richard Binning : Thursday, January 03, 2008 0 comments links to this post

Revit Uses Relative Links on Network

Did you know that by default Revit uses relative links when importing other files? While this may or may not be news to you, it does require you to think when moving or copying files to new destinations on your network.



Lesson: Don't assume that Revit will remember the full path and filename of linked files.





Sidenote: This opens up possibilities for remapping drive letters, using dos subst commands etc.

Labels: Architecture, Autodesk, BIM, Revit

# posted by Richard Binning : Tuesday, December 18, 2007 0 comments links to this post